Oregon · Hiking · Near Sisters

Swede Ridge

3.7 mi
round trip
625 ft
climb
5,941 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Swede Ridge open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Deschutes National Forest. It doesn't name Swede Ridge, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Deschutes National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Swede Ridge is a moderate 3.65-mile hike in Oregon's Deschutes National Forest, within the Bend/Fort Rock Ranger District. It's a natural-surface trail managed by the Forest Service, and the route is an out-and-back that reaches about 5,940 feet, with the steepest stretch at roughly mile 1.1. The trail climbs about 625 feet round trip, with the high point at 5,941 feet and the low at about 5,690 feet. Bikes are allowed, but horses are not. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical July highs reach about 83°F with lows near 47°F, and that month sees only about three wet days, according to averages from the Wickiup Dam weather station 24 miles away. That station sits well below the ridge, so temperatures up top run cooler. Winter is cold, with typical January highs around 40°F and lows near 21°F. The hike starts close to several other routes, including the Tumalo Ridge Trail and Sector 16, both about 0.1 mile away, and Cougar Buttress, a climbing area about 1.4 miles off. Three Creeks Lake Campground lies about 6.8 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Three Creek Lake

    Campground

    Campground · 6.7 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Bend Pizza Kitchen

    Restaurant

    Open after 6
  • If it rains

    Art Gallery Dyrk Godby

    Gallery

    In town

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Sisters

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Swede Ridge

    Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      40° / 21°

      13 wet

    2. Feb

      43° / 22°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      48° / 26°

      12 wet

    4. Apr

      54° / 30°

      10 wet

    5. May

      63° / 36°

      9 wet

    6. Jun

      71° / 42°

      6 wet

    7. Jul

      83° / 47°

      3 wet

    8. Aug

      82° / 46°

      3 wet

    9. Sep

      75° / 38°

      4 wet

    10. Oct

      62° / 31°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      46° / 26°

      11 wet

    12. Dec

      38° / 21°

      13 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Wickiup Dam, OR, 24 mi away at 4,358 ft. The station sits about 1,600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.